"Foundation Series" Vs. "World Of Ptavvs"

[RB comment: Response provided both to ABIA and ABLN ]

In article <c36049$24co9i$1@ID-79033.news.uni-berlin.de>,
"Ernest Fairchild" <ernestf.DeleteThis@delphidude.com> writes:

 >"Richard Ballard" <rball84213.DeleteThis@aol.com> wrote in message
 >news:20040315142230.23307.00007329@mb-m29.aol.com...
 >
 >Readers familiar with Larry Niven's novel "World Of Ptavvs"
 >know the story of a creature with the ability to control other
 >beings' (including human beings') mentalities (with attendent
 >control of motor skills), seeking to control an entire planet.
 >IMO an interesting scene in this novel is the scene when the
 >maturing Ptavv first achieves the ability to mentally shield
 >itself from others' thoughts (immediately after embarrassing
 >itself at a party).
 >
 >Someone close to me once told me "The skin on your rectum
 >is the same as the skin on your lips." At the time I laughed,
 >but later I reflected "I'd expect a clever security officer to
 >say that." I thought about the World Of Ptavvs, where the
 >(once embarrassed) Ptavv controls alien beings adept at
 >biological engineering. Then I thought about Asimov's
 >Foundation Series, with its emphasis on emotional control.
 >
 >Ummm, ptavv means slave. The ones *being controlled* are the slaves.

Since its been over twenty years since I read "World Of Ptavvs"
I am not going to worry about an inconsequential detail. Yes,
the alien beings that were being controlled were the Ptavvs,
the slaves, but the controlling being was vanquished. I believe
that I made my original point about clever security officers clearly.

IMO Asimov's Foundation Series is fascinating for another reason.
The concept of a (superior?) Second Foundation that shepherds
the direction and destiny of the First Foundation (and the galaxy)
is fascinating. Some First Foundationers look to the Second
Foundation as problem solving saviours -- a dysfunctional attitude
that weakens those First Foundationers. Other First Foundationers
look at the Second Foundationers as aloof diletantes who steer
human society in a flawed selfserving direction while allowing
the First Foundationers to perform all the physical labor.

This First Foundation attitude is not without societal precedent
(another point of my original message). I remember hearing stories
20+ years ago about Trilateral Commission members meeting in the
Northern California redwoods both to discuss Commission business
and also to enjoy Pagan festivities. (Apparently one former
United States Secretary of State was photographed in the woods
wearing a toga.)

I will allow interested readers to investigate the history
of the Trilateral Commission and its membership.

BTW, this is a playful thread and I like word games. Consider
the sentence 'I sack as I move'.

"All Rights Reserved"?
If I 'right' must I reserve?

I got no problems.
Other people got problems.
00: 21 _8 02 03/35 06 09

Richard Ballard MSEE CNA4 KD0AZ
--
Consultant specializing in computer networks, imaging & security
Listed as rjballard in "Friends & Favorites" at <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.amazon.com" target="_blank">www.amazon.com</a>
Last book review: "Guerrilla Television" by Michael Shamberg<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: "Foundation Series" Vs. "World Of Ptavvs" 

[RB comment: Response provided both to ABIA and ABLN ]

In article <20040316061810.06226.00003408.RemoveThis@mb-m19.aol.com>,
rball84213.RemoveThis@aol.com (Richard Ballard) writes:

 >In article <c36049$24co9i$1@ID-79033.news.uni-berlin.de>,
 >"Ernest Fairchild" <ernestf.RemoveThis@delphidude.com> writes:
 >
  >>"Richard Ballard" <rball84213.RemoveThis@aol.com> wrote in message
  >>news:20040315142230.23307.00007329@mb-m29.aol.com...
  >>
   >>>Readers familiar with Larry Niven's novel "World Of Ptavvs"
   >>>know the story of a creature with the ability to control other
   >>>beings' (including human beings') mentalities (with attendent
   >>>control of motor skills), seeking to control an entire planet.
   >>>IMO an interesting scene in this novel is the scene when the
   >>>maturing Ptavv first achieves the ability to mentally shield
   >>>itself from others' thoughts (immediately after embarrassing
   >>>itself at a party).
   >>>
   >>>Someone close to me once told me "The skin on your rectum
   >>>is the same as the skin on your lips." At the time I laughed,
   >>>but later I reflected "I'd expect a clever security officer to
   >>>say that." I thought about the World Of Ptavvs, where the
   >>>(once embarrassed) Ptavv controls alien beings adept at
   >>>biological engineering. Then I thought about Asimov's
   >>>Foundation Series, with its emphasis on emotional control.
  >>
  >>Ummm, ptavv means slave. The ones *being controlled* are the slaves.
 >
 >Since its been over twenty years since I read "World Of Ptavvs"
 >I am not going to worry about an inconsequential detail. Yes,
 >the alien beings that were being controlled were the Ptavvs,
 >the slaves, but the controlling being was vanquished. I believe
 >that I made my original point about clever security officers clearly.
 >
 >IMO Asimov's Foundation Series is fascinating for another reason.
 >The concept of a (superior?) Second Foundation that shepherds
 >the direction and destiny of the First Foundation (and the galaxy)
 >is fascinating. Some First Foundationers look to the Second
 >Foundation as problem solving saviours -- a dysfunctional attitude
 >that weakens those First Foundationers. Other First Foundationers
 >look at the Second Foundationers as aloof diletantes who steer
 >human society in a flawed selfserving direction while allowing
 >the First Foundationers to perform all the physical labor.
 >
 >This First Foundation attitude is not without societal precedent
 >(another point of my original message). I remember hearing stories
 >20+ years ago about Trilateral Commission members meeting in the
 >Northern California redwoods both to discuss Commission business
 >and also to enjoy Pagan festivities. (Apparently one former
 >United States Secretary of State was photographed in the woods
 >wearing a toga.)
 >
 >I will allow interested readers to investigate the history
 >of the Trilateral Commission and its membership.
 >
 >BTW, this is a playful thread and I like word games. Consider
 >the sentence 'I sack as I move'.

This thread started as a speculation concerning sci-fi authors
and anecdotes told by their interesting friends. If these
anecdotes are real they might be traceable in the resulting
stories. One example: Who served as the inspiration for
'The Mule' in Isaac Asimov's "Foundation" series?

The Mule was a genius at emotional control. How do humans
accomplish emotional control? Through negative and positive
emotions. Negative emotions typically are fearful -- physical
fear in wartime and financial fear in peacetime. Positive emotions
typically include desire for success (which can be promoted
monetarily) and desire for love and acceptance (which can be
facilitated by success and which also can be directly promoted
financially). A person able to flood another with positive and
negative emotions can emotionally control that other person.

And you would expect a mule to be stubborn.

Howard Hughes was an eccentric and driven engineer. Early
in his life he developed and patented a oildrilling bit superior
to all others on the market. Hughes did not sell his drillbits --
he leased them. Howard Hughes had a monopoly on his
superior oildrilling bits that provided a _huge_ steady income
stream throughout his lifetime. Howard Hughes easily could
buy and sell people -- negative emotional terror.

Howard Hughes expanded into many ventures, including
aeronautics (he built The Spruce Goose, the largest successful
wooden aircraft ever produced) and he happily ran his own
movie studio. Howard Hughes had access to a seemingly
endless supply of starlets (including the voluptuous Jane
Russell). No doubt Howard Hughes and his starlet friends
threw some wonderful parties, and people would go to great
lengths to get onto the Hughes party 'A list' -- positive
emotional bliss.

Hughes was eccentric, incredibly wealthy, and had many
beautiful starlet friends -- Hughes wielded the carrot and the
stick. And eccentric Hughes was known to be incredibly
stubborn and willing to back up his wishes with money.

IMO Howard Hughes was the real life model for The Mule
in Isaac Asimov's "Foundation" series.

"All Rights Reserved"?
If I 'right' must I reserve?

I got no problems.
Other people got problems.
00: 21 _8 02 03/35 06 09

Richard Ballard MSEE CNA4 KD0AZ
--
Consultant specializing in computer networks, imaging & security
Listed as rjballard in "Friends & Favorites" at <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.amazon.com" target="_blank">www.amazon.com</a>
Last book review: "Guerrilla Television" by Michael Shamberg<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: "Foundation Series" Vs. "World Of Ptavvs" 

Richard Ballard wrote:

 > [RB comment: Message provided both to ABIA and ABLN]

Richard, if you think that this discussion has relevance to both groups,
you should cross-post it.

(q.v. <URL <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://info.astrian.net/jargon/terms/c.html#cross-post" target="_blank">http://info.astrian.net/jargon/terms/c.html#cross-post</a> >

HTH

--
-blj-<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: "Foundation Series" Vs. "World Of Ptavvs" 

In article <opr4yf5krn0v1caabrianlj.TakeThisOut@news-text.dial.pipex.com>,
"Brian L Johnson" <no.email.TakeThisOut@address.invalid> writes:

 >Richard Ballard wrote:
 >
  >>[RB comment: Message provided both to ABIA and ABLN]
 >
 >Richard, if you think that this discussion has relevance to
 >both groups, you should cross-post it.

Brian, the version of AOL I _choose_ to utilize allows sending
messages to only one Internet newsgroup -- I believe this is a
deliberate feature of AOL. When sending messages to multiple Internet
newsgroups is suitable I am forced to send multiple
messages. And I will _not_ abandon AOL, Brian (anticipating
your next sarcasm).

You could have sent your offtopic (as usual) criticism in
an e-mail to me directly, but (as usual) you chose to cling
to my coattails. Brian, why don't you get a life of your own?

"All Rights Reserved"?
If I 'right' must I reserve?

I got no problems.
Other people got problems.
00: 21 _8 02 03/35 06 09

Richard Ballard MSEE CNA4 KD0AZ
--
Consultant specializing in computer networks, imaging & security
Listed as rjballard in "Friends & Favorites" at <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.amazon.com" target="_blank">www.amazon.com</a>
Last book review: "Guerrilla Television" by Michael Shamberg<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: "Foundation Series" Vs. "World Of Ptavvs" 

Richard Ballard wrote:

 > In article <opr4yf5krn0v1caabrianlj.RemoveThis@news-text.dial.pipex.com>,
 > "Brian L Johnson" <no.email.RemoveThis@address.invalid> writes:
 >
  >> Richard Ballard wrote:
  >>
   >>> [RB comment: Message provided both to ABIA and ABLN]
  >>
  >> Richard, if you think that this discussion has relevance to
  >> both groups, you should cross-post it.
 >
 > Brian, the version of AOL I _choose_ to utilize allows sending
 > messages to only one Internet newsgroup -- I believe this is a
 > deliberate feature of AOL. When sending messages to multiple Internet
 > newsgroups is suitable I am forced to send multiple
 > messages. And I will _not_ abandon AOL, Brian (anticipating
 > your next sarcasm).

Wow! Who got out of bed the wrong side this morning!?!

No, I didn't realise that AOL software only allows posting to single
groups. If someone else cross-posts[1] a msg, does your software allow
you to reply to all the goups or does it just reply to the first listed
group?

 > You could have sent your offtopic (as usual) criticism in
 > an e-mail to me directly, but (as usual) you chose to cling
 > to my coattails. Brian, why don't you get a life of your own?

Richard, you snipped my smiley. I was only trying to be helpful, and
you've made it look as though I was criticising and being rude. That's
not nice of you.

-----Footnote-----
1. Generally, in Usenet, multi-posting is frowned upon because it means
that people who read all the groups posted to will read the multi-posted
msg each time. A lot of people find that annoying.

By contrast, *cross*-posting means that people only read the msg once and
they can reply in whichever group they want. It also has the advantage
that people in all the cross-posted groups can see and respond to a much
greater spread of ideas.[2] It builds a much greater sense of community
and I'm surprised that the writers of the AOL software don't realise this.

2. For instance, your comments about the Spruce Goose, for instance, might
well spark discussion over here of Niven's treatment of the Spruce Goose
in _Dream Park_. Some of the Asimov group might find that interesting and
be tempted to pick up a book they wouldn't normally have read. Such
threads are difficult to manage when multi-posting.

--
-blj-<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: "Foundation Series" Vs. "World Of Ptavvs" 

In article <opr4yot2o10v1caabrianlj.DeleteThis@news-text.dial.pipex.com>,
"Brian L Johnson" <no.email.DeleteThis@address.invalid> writes:

 >Richard Ballard wrote:
 >
  >>In article <opr4yf5krn0v1caabrianlj.DeleteThis@news-text.dial.pipex.com>,
  >>"Brian L Johnson" <no.email.DeleteThis@address.invalid> writes:
  >>
   >>>Richard Ballard wrote:
   >>>
   >>>>[RB comment: Message provided both to ABIA and ABLN]
   >>>
   >>>Richard, if you think that this discussion has relevance to
   >>>both groups, you should cross-post it.
  >>
  >>Brian, the version of AOL I _choose_ to utilize allows sending
  >>messages to only one Internet newsgroup -- I believe this is a
  >>deliberate feature of AOL. When sending messages to multiple
  >>Internet
  >>newsgroups is suitable I am forced to send multiple
  >>messages. And I will _not_ abandon AOL, Brian (anticipating
  >>your next sarcasm).
 >
 >Wow! Who got out of bed the wrong side this morning!?!

Brian, you have been harassing me (har assing me?) in
Internet newsgroup news.admin.net-abuse.email for the
past week, and now you providing offtopic sarcasms here.

Please stop following me like a puppy, Brian.

"All Rights Reserved"?
If I 'right' must I reserve?

I got no problems.
Other people got problems.
00: 21 _8 02 03/35 06 09

Richard Ballard MSEE CNA4 KD0AZ
--
Consultant specializing in computer networks, imaging & security
Listed as rjballard in "Friends & Favorites" at <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.amazon.com" target="_blank">www.amazon.com</a>
Last book review: "Guerrilla Television" by Michael Shamberg<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: "Foundation Series" Vs. "World Of Ptavvs" 

Richard Ballard wrote:

 > Brian, you have been harassing me (har assing me?) in
 > Internet newsgroup news.admin.net-abuse.email for the
 > past week, and now you providing offtopic sarcasms here.
 >
 > Please stop following me like a puppy, Brian.

Jesus, lighten up, guy.

--
__ Erik Max Francis && max RemoveThis @alcyone.com && <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.alcyone.com/max/" target="_blank">http://www.alcyone.com/max/</a>
/ \ San Jose, CA, USA && 37 20 N 121 53 W && &tSftDotIotE
\__/ Here day fights with night.
-- (the last words of Victor Hugo)<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: "Foundation Series" Vs. "World Of Ptavvs" 

Richard Ballard wrote:

 > Brian, you have been harassing me (har assing me?) in
 > Internet newsgroup news.admin.net-abuse.email for the
 > past week,

Harassing?[1] You must have a very low Harassment Threshold. <g>

I contributed a few (3? 4?) posts to a discussion of hundreds of msgs
which you started about supposed spam [2] and <quick look... yes> you're
currently still taunting a few of the regulars with remarks about their
parentage and their 'weak' and 'daisy stem' arms.

But... harassment? No way.

 > and now you providing offtopic sarcasms here.

Yes, I'll agree that *this* msg is off-topic[3], but my original ones were
simply follow-ups to yours and were largely on-topic.

I mean, off-topic is something like when you ramble on about how you can
send Morse code faster than the world record holder or how you can jog for
an incresing number of miles carrying 3lb weights or how you've got a 1994
Chevy which has done you proud or when you post totally ficticious
requests for books and records or... etc etc. in newsgroups which have
nothing to do with *any* of those topics.

Now, *that's* off-topic.

 > Please stop following me like a puppy, Brian.

Am I not allowed to post in any newsgroup in which you post? How about
here? I'll warrant I know more about Niven and Asimov (including how to
spell his name) than you do.

But... if you think you're being harassed, I shan't reply again.

There.

Feel free to have the last word.

-----Footnotes-----
1. What IS it with your splitting up of words? Is it a joke or something?
2. In a newsgroup in which I am a regular and you are a newbie.
3. Notice the subject change? It's a Usenet convention.

--
-blj-<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: "Foundation Series" Vs. "World Of Ptavvs" 

In article <opr4yv4vem0v1caabrianlj.DeleteThis@news-text.dial.pipex.com>,
"Brian L Johnson" <no.email.DeleteThis@address.invalid> writes:

 >Richard Ballard wrote:
 >
  >>Brian, you have been harassing me (har assing me?) in
  >>Internet newsgroup news.admin.net-abuse.email for the
  >>past week,
 >
 >Harassing?[1] You must have a very low Harassment Threshold. <g>
 >
 >I contributed a few (3? 4?) posts to a discussion of hundreds of
 >msgs
 >which you started about supposed spam [2] and <quick look... yes>
 >you're
 >currently still taunting a few of the regulars with remarks about
 >their
 >parentage and their 'weak' and 'daisy stem' arms.

Brian, I made no reference to parentage. I made repeated
reference to a high school aged male ward running home to
his goldbrick, but I made no reference to parentage. The
rude arrogant high school aged male ward formerly lived
across the street from my home -- he sought me in NANAE
(like you, Brian). The rude arrogant high school aged ward
is not disabled but he runs clumsily.

 >But... harassment? No way.

Get out of the way, Brian.

I am a small businessman, I still have my passport,
and I protect my name.

"All Rights Reserved"?
If I 'right' must I reserve?

I got no problems.
Other people got problems.
00: 21 _8 02 03/35 06 09

Richard Ballard MSEE CNA4 KD0AZ
--
Consultant specializing in computer networks, imaging & security
Listed as rjballard in "Friends & Favorites" at <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.amazon.com" target="_blank">www.amazon.com</a>
Last book review: "Guerrilla Television" by Michael Shamberg<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: "Foundation Series" Vs. "World Of Ptavvs" 

In article <40579A6B.13985555 DeleteThis @alcyone.com>,
Erik Max Francis <max DeleteThis @alcyone.com> writes:

 >Richard Ballard wrote:
 >
  >>Brian, you have been harassing me (har assing me?) in
  >>Internet newsgroup news.admin.net-abuse.email for the
  >>past week, and now you providing offtopic sarcasms here.
  >>
  >>Please stop following me like a puppy, Brian.
 >
 >Jesus, lighten up, guy.
 >
 >--
<font color=purple> > __Erik Max Francis && max DeleteThis @alcyone.com && <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.alcyone.com/max/</font" target="_blank">http://www.alcyone.com/max/</font</a>>
 >/ \ San Jose, CA, USA && 37 20 N 121 53 W && &tSftDotIotE
 >\__/ Here day fights with night.
 > -- (the last words of Victor Hugo)

I already have killfiled you in other Usenet groups -- I did/do
not appreciate your intruding into my affairs here.

You are fortunate to be in San Jose. I once had the opportunity
to visit San Jose -- Stanford University has a beautiful campus.
That does not make you and me friends, however -- particularly
when you interfere in my affairs.

I am a small businessman, I still have my passport
and I protect my name.

"All Rights Reserved"?
If I 'right' must I reserve?

I got no problems.
Other people got problems.
00: 21 _8 02 03/35 06 09

Richard Ballard MSEE CNA4 KD0AZ
--
Consultant specializing in computer networks, imaging & security
Listed as rjballard in "Friends & Favorites" at <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.amazon.com" target="_blank">www.amazon.com</a>
Last book review: "Guerrilla Television" by Michael Shamberg<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: "Foundation Series" Vs. "World Of Ptavvs" 

Richard Ballard wrote:

 > I already have killfiled you in other Usenet groups -- I did/do
 > not appreciate your intruding into my affairs here.

That means a lot, given that I have no idea who you are.

--
__ Erik Max Francis && max.TakeThisOut@alcyone.com && <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.alcyone.com/max/" target="_blank">http://www.alcyone.com/max/</a>
/ \ San Jose, CA, USA && 37 20 N 121 53 W && &tSftDotIotE
\__/ Liberty is the right to do whatever the law permits.
-- Charles Louis Montesquieu<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: "Foundation Series" Vs. "World Of Ptavvs" 

[RB comment: Message provided both to ABIA and ABLN ]

In article <20040316071345.23307.00007333.RemoveThis@mb-m29.aol.com>,
rball84213.RemoveThis@aol.com (Richard Ballard) writes:

 >In article <20040316061810.06226.00003408.RemoveThis@mb-m19.aol.com>,
 >rball84213@aol.com (Richard Ballard) writes:
 >
  >>In article <c36049$24co9i$1@ID-79033.news.uni-berlin.de>,
  >>"Ernest Fairchild" <ernestf.RemoveThis@delphidude.com> writes:
  >>
   >>>"Richard Ballard" <rball84213.RemoveThis@aol.com> wrote in message
   >>>news:20040315142230.23307.00007329@mb-m29.aol.com...
   >>>
   >>>>Readers familiar with Larry Niven's novel "World Of Ptavvs"
   >>>>know the story of a creature with the ability to control other
   >>>>beings' (including human beings') mentalities (with attendent
   >>>>control of motor skills), seeking to control an entire planet.
   >>>>IMO an interesting scene in this novel is the scene when the
   >>>>maturing Ptavv first achieves the ability to mentally shield
   >>>>itself from others' thoughts (immediately after embarrassing
   >>>>itself at a party).
   >>>>
   >>>>Someone close to me once told me "The skin on your rectum
   >>>>is the same as the skin on your lips." At the time I laughed,
   >>>>but later I reflected "I'd expect a clever security officer to
   >>>>say that." I thought about the World Of Ptavvs, where the
   >>>>(once embarrassed) Ptavv controls alien beings adept at
   >>>>biological engineering. Then I thought about Asimov's
   >>>>Foundation Series, with its emphasis on emotional control.
   >>>
   >>>Ummm, ptavv means slave. The ones *being controlled* are the
   >>>slaves.
  >>
  >>Since its been over twenty years since I read "World Of Ptavvs"
  >>I am not going to worry about an inconsequential detail. Yes,
  >>the alien beings that were being controlled were the Ptavvs,
  >>the slaves, but the controlling being was vanquished. I believe
  >>that I made my original point about clever security officers
  >>clearly.
  >>
  >>IMO Asimov's Foundation Series is fascinating for another reason.
  >>The concept of a (superior?) Second Foundation that shepherds
  >>the direction and destiny of the First Foundation (and the galaxy)
  >>is fascinating. Some First Foundationers look to the Second
  >>Foundation as problem solving saviours -- a dysfunctional attitude
  >>that weakens those First Foundationers. Other First Foundationers
  >>look at the Second Foundationers as aloof diletantes who steer
  >>human society in a flawed selfserving direction while allowing
  >>the First Foundationers to perform all the physical labor.
  >>
  >>This First Foundation attitude is not without societal precedent
  >>(another point of my original message). I remember hearing stories
  >>20+ years ago about Trilateral Commission members meeting in the
  >>Northern California redwoods both to discuss Commission business
  >>and also to enjoy Pagan festivities. (Apparently one former
  >>United States Secretary of State was photographed in the woods
  >>wearing a toga.)
  >>
  >>I will allow interested readers to investigate the history
  >>of the Trilateral Commission and its membership.
  >>
  >>BTW, this is a playful thread and I like word games. Consider
  >>the sentence 'I sack as I move'.
 >
 >This thread started as a speculation concerning sci-fi authors
 >and anecdotes told by their interesting friends. If these
 >anecdotes are real they might be traceable in the resulting
 >stories. One example: Who served as the inspiration for
 >'The Mule' in Isaac Asimov's "Foundation" series?
 >
 >The Mule was a genius at emotional control. How do humans
 >accomplish emotional control? Through negative and positive
 >emotions. Negative emotions typically are fearful -- physical
 >fear in wartime and financial fear in peacetime. Positive emotions
 >typically include desire for success (which can be promoted
 >monetarily) and desire for love and acceptance (which can be
 >facilitated by success and which also can be directly promoted
 >financially). A person able to flood another with positive and
 >negative emotions can emotionally control that other person.
 >
 >And you would expect a mule to be stubborn.
 >
 >Howard Hughes was an eccentric and driven engineer. Early
 >in his life he developed and patented a oildrilling bit superior
 >to all others on the market. Hughes did not sell his drillbits --
 >he leased them. Howard Hughes had a monopoly on his
 >superior oildrilling bits that provided a _huge_ steady income
 >stream throughout his lifetime. Howard Hughes easily could
 >buy and sell people -- negative emotional terror.
 >
 >Howard Hughes expanded into many ventures, including
 >aeronautics (he built The Spruce Goose, the largest successful
 >wooden aircraft ever produced) and he happily ran his own
 >movie studio. Howard Hughes had access to a seemingly
 >endless supply of starlets (including the voluptuous Jane
 >Russell). No doubt Howard Hughes and his starlet friends
 >threw some wonderful parties, and people would go to great
 >lengths to get onto the Hughes party 'A list' -- positive
 >emotional bliss.
 >
 >Hughes was eccentric, incredibly wealthy, and had many
 >beautiful starlet friends -- Hughes wielded the carrot and the
 >stick. And eccentric Hughes was known to be incredibly
 >stubborn and willing to back up his wishes with money.
 >
 >IMO Howard Hughes was the real life model for The Mule
 >in Isaac Asimov's "Foundation" series.

21st Century young adults might find my speculation that
Howard Hughes was the real life model for Isaac Asimov's
'The Mule' fanciful. I want to place my speculation in
a 21st Century perspective -- a perspective where T V has
more power than novels.

I never have met Mr. Donald Trump, but I have viewed him
infrequently on T V. Mr. Trump is a very financially successful
and powerful businessman. IMO Mr. Trump combines the
characteristics of goal-oriented motivation, stubborness once
he has made a decision, and pragmatism -- IMO an effective
combination. IMO in some ways Mr. Trump shares characteristics
with Mr. Howard Hughes (now deceased). One very significant
difference is that while Mr. Trump is a polished social gentleman,
late in his life Mr. Howard Hughes became reclusive.

Mr. Trump currently has a T V show where he works with
managers, evaluates their actions, and corrects them (or in
some cases fires them). Making presentations before
The Boss and being publicly reprimanded is a memorable
experience, and Mr. Trump leads his managers effectively.

I am working from memory, but in Isaac Asimov's "Foundation"
series there is a scene where somebody is waiting for a
conference with 'The Mule' and is told that The Mule is busy
'emotionally adjusting' a recently captured enemy General.
In short order The Mule arrives, indicates 'No Problem' and
the conference commences.

I can imagine a hypothetical situation where Mr. Trump purchases
a business and confers with the business's (former) CEO.
Mr. Trump now owns the business and Mr. Trump _tells_
the business's (former) CEO his new role within the business.
The business's (former) CEO protests, and Mr. Trump _tells_
the business's (former) CEO the personal financial ramifications
of carrying out his protests. The (former) CEO is emotionally
(financially and influentially) adjusted, the conference ends,
and Mr. Trump continues unhindered with his own ventures
accompanied by his everpresent administrative assistant.

The film "The Game" contains sequences where Michael Douglas
depicts an investment banker confering with the (former) CEO
of a now purchased publishing company. Mr. Douglas arrives at
the meeting unaccompanied and several chaotic interventions
spoil the meeting (and the sequences' use in this analogy).
In real life, I believe Mr. Douglas would arrive accompanied by
business associates and that careful logistics would prevent
chaotic interventions from spoiling the conference.

"All Rights Reserved"?
If I 'right' must I reserve?

I got no problems.
Other people got problems.
00: 21 _8 02 03/35 06 09

Richard Ballard MSEE CNA4 KD0AZ
--
Consultant specializing in computer networks, imaging & security
Listed as rjballard in "Friends & Favorites" at <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.amazon.com" target="_blank">www.amazon.com</a>
Last book review: "Guerrilla Television" by Michael Shamberg<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: "Foundation Series" Vs. "World Of Ptavvs" 

<< From: rball84213 DeleteThis @aol.com (Richard Ballard) >>


<< > __Erik Max Francis && max DeleteThis @alcyone.com && <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.alcyone.com/max/" target="_blank">http://www.alcyone.com/max/</a>
 >/ \ San Jose, CA, USA && 37 20 N 121 53 W && &tSftDotIotE
 >\__/ Here day fights with night.
 > -- (the last words of Victor Hugo)

I already have killfiled you in other Usenet groups -- I did/do
not appreciate your intruding into my affairs here. >>

YOU'RE gonna kf a useful poster like Erik? It's your off topic crap that's not
appreciated. Go away.

Plonk.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: "Foundation Series" Vs. "World Of Ptavvs"